Front sight night vision device

ABSTRACT

A night vision device to mark the location of a front sight on a rifle or a modern bow includes a casing, a power source and a light emission device adapted to the front sight. Wherein, the casing contains the power source connected to the light emission device, and a light conductor is further provided to the front of the light emission device so to mark the location of the front sight to aim at a selected target by the light emitted from the light emission device during night hours or where poor visual contact presents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a front sight night visiondevice, and more particularly, to one that is adapted to a rifle or abow that emits light to mark the location of the front sight duringnight hours or where the visual contact is poor.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Whereas, a front sight is required to aim at the target inshooting a bow or a rifle, the front sight may be easily seen duringdaytime or where well-lighted. However, during night hours or where withpoor visual contact, the front sight may not be easily seen, thus toaffect the percentage of hitting. Therefore, it is necessary to design anight vision device to mark the location of the front sight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide anight vision device to mark the location of the front sight during nighthours. To achieve the purpose, the present invention is essentiallycomprised of a casing, a power source, and an light emission deviceadapted to the front sight; wherein, the casing contains a tube and aswitch, the switch controls the power source conducted through the lightemission device so to mark the location of the front sight during nighthours or where the visual contact is poor.

[0006] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a nightvision device to mark the location of the front sight during nighthours; wherein, a light conductor is further provided at the front endof light emission device to direct the light to the front sight.

[0007] Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide anight vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein,the casing contains a tube and a switch, and the switch includes a firstswitch and a second switch. The second switch includes an elastic memberand a sleeve. Both ends of the tube are externally threaded, and both ofthe first and the second switches respectively in relation to the tubeare also threaded so to engage to both ends of the tube. A hole is drillthrough the mid section of the tube. One end of the elastic member isfixed in the second switch and the other end of the elastic member isfixed to the sleeve. The power source is provided with a first electrodeand a second electrode. The light emission device is provided with afirst electrode pin and a second electrode pin so that the lightemission device is inserted through the hole in the mid of the tube ofthe casing with the first electrode pin and the second electrode pin ofthe light emission device to be contained in the tube. The power sourceis received in the tube of the casing and is threaded to one end of thetube with the first switch. The second electrode of the power sourcecontacts the first electrode pin of the light emission device, and thesecond electrode of the power source contacts the first is switch. Thesecond switch is threaded to another end of the tube. By tightening upthe second switch, the elastic member and the sleeve hold against thesecond electrode pin of the light emission device. The first switch isreleased from contacting the first electrode of the power source byloosening up the first switch; or by loosening up the second switch,both of the elastic member and the sleeve are released from contactingthe second electrode pin of the light emission device by loosening upthe second switch.

[0008] Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide anight vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein, aretainer is provided in the first switch, an insulation elastic washeris inserted at the bottom of the retainer so that once the first switchis tightened up, the elastic washer is slightly compressed for theretainer to hold against the power source.

[0009] Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide anight vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein,the light conductor is an optical fiber.

[0010] Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide anight vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein,the light conductor is an optical fiber wrapped in a protection tube.

[0011] Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide anight vision device to mark the location of the front sight; wherein,the protection tube wrapping up the light conductor is comprised of aflexible section connected with a rigid section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a view showing the operation of a first switch of thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a view showing the operation of a second switch of thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a view showing that the first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is adapted to an automatic rifle.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a thirdpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a view showing that the third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is adapted to an automatic rifle.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a view showing that the third preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is adapted to a modern bow.

[0020]FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing that the third preferredembodiment of the present invention is adapted to the modern bow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is comprised of a casing (1), a power source (2), a lightemission device (3) adapted to a front sight housing (51) (asillustrated in FIG. 4). The light emission device (3) emits the light tomark the location of a front sight in the front sight housing (51).

[0022] The casing (1) includes a hollow tube (11) and a switch set. Theswitch set includes a first switch (12) and a second switch (13). Thesecond switch (13) contains an elastic member (14) and a sleeve (15).The tube (11) has its both ends respectively provided with externalthreads (111) and (112). Threads (121) and (131) are respectivelyprovided on the first switch (12) and the second switch (13) for both ofthe first switch (12) and the second switch (13) to be respectivelyengaged to both ends of the tube (11). A washer (122) is adapted to thefirst switch (12) for waterproof once the present invention isassembled. A hole (113) is drilled through the mid of the tube (11). Oneend of the elastic member (14) is fixed to the second switch in the tube(11), and the other end of the elastic member (14) is fixed to thesleeve (15).

[0023] The power source (2) contains a first electrode (21) and a secondelectrode (22).

[0024] The light emission device (3) includes a first electrode pin (31)and a second electrode pin (32). An insulation block (33) is insertedinto the gap between the first electrode pin (31) and the secondelectrode pin (32). Another washer (34) is adapted to the insulationblock (33) for waterproof purpose once the present invention isassembled.

[0025] Upon assembling, the light emission device (3) is insertedthrough the hole (113) in the mid of the tube (11) of the casing (1) tobe contained together with the first electrode pin (31) and the secondelectrode pin (32) inside the tube (11). The power source (2) iscontained inside the tube (11) of the casing (1) with the thread (121)of the first switch (12) to be engaged to the thread (111) at one end ofthe tube (111) so that the second electrode (22) of the power source (2)contacts the first electrode pin (31) of the light emission device (3),and the first electrode (21) of the power source (2) contacts the firstswitch (12). The second switch (13) is engaged to the thread (112) onthe other end of the tube (11) with the thread (131). The sleeve (15) atone end of the elastic member (14) holds against the second electrodepin (32) of the light emission device (3) by tightening up the secondswitch (13). The casing (1) is conducted through the power source (2)and the light emission device (3) for the light emission device (3) toemit light due that the tube (11), the first switch (12), the secondswitch (13) of the casing (1), and the elastic member (14) and thesleeve (15) are all conductors.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the light emission device (3) isprevented from emitting light by loosening up the first switch (12) forthe first switch (12) to no longer contact the first electrode (21) ofthe power source (2) to form an off circuit between the power source (2)and the light emission device (3).

[0027] Now referring to FIG. 3, the light emission device (3) isprevented from emitting light by loosening up the second switch (13) forboth of the elastic member (14) and the sleeve (15) no longer contactthe second electrode pin (32) of the light emission device (3) to forman off circuit between the power source (2) and the light emissiondevice (3).

[0028]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing that the first preferredembodiment of the present invention is applied to an automatic rifle(5). Wherein, the front sight housing (51) of the automatic rifle (5) iscomparatively larger in size, a drill is in the front sight housing (51)to directly fix the tube (11) of the casing (1) to the front sighthousing (51) to expose both of the first switch (12) and the secondswitch (13) out of the front sight housing (51) to facilitate theoperation of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.Furthermore, a hole (52) in smaller diameter is drilled through thefront sight housing (51) to be directly connected through the locationof a front sight (53) while the light emission device (3) is located inthe front sight housing (51) below the hole (52) for the light emittedfrom the light emission device (3) to be signed through the hole (52) inthe front sight housing (51) at where the front sight (53) is located,thus for a user of the automatic rifle (5) to identify the location ofthe front sight (53).

[0029] A second preferred embodiment of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 5 is comprised of a casing (1A), a power source(2A), and a light emission device (3A). The casing (1A) includes ahollow tube (11A), a first switch (12A), a second switch (13A), and anelastic member (14A). Both ends of the tube (11A) are respectivelyprovided with external threads (111A) and (112A). Threads (121A) and(131A) are respectively provided on the first switch (12A) and thesecond switch (13A) to be respectively engaged to both ends of the tube(11A). A washer (122A) is adapted to the first switch (12A) forwaterproof purpose once the second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is assembled. A hole (113A) is drilled in the mid of the tube(11A) and connected into the tube (11A). One end of the elastic member(14A) is fixed into the second switch (13A) while the other end of theelastic member (14A) is fixed to the sleeve (15A). The power source (2A)includes a first electrode (21A) and a second electrode (22A). The lightemission device (3A) contains a first electrode pin (31A) and a secondelectrode ping (32A). An insulation block (33A) is provided between thefirst electrode pin (32A) and the second electrode pin (33A) and anotherwasher (34A) is adapted to the light emission device (3A) for waterproofpurpose once the second preferred embodiment of the present invention isassembled. The second preferred embodiment differs the first preferredembodiment of the present invention in that a retainer (123A) isprovided in the first switch (12A) of the second preferred embodimentand an insulation elastic washer (124A), i.e., an O-ring as illustrated,is inserted at the top of the retainer (123A) so that upon tightening upthe first switch (12A), the elastic washer (124A) is slightly compressedfor the retainer (123A) to hold against the first electrode (21A) of thepower source (2A) thus to conduct both of the power source (2A) and thelight emission device (3A) for the light emission device (3A) to emitlight; on the contrary, the light emission device (3A) is prevented fromemitting the light upon loosening up the first switch (12A).

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention includes a casing (1B), a power source (2B), a lightemission device (3B) and a light conductor (4).

[0031] The casing (1B) includes a tube (11B), a first switch (12B), anda second switch (13B). Both ends of the tube (11B) are respectivelyprovided with external threads (111B) and (112B) and matching threads(121B) and (131B) are respectively to be engaged to both ends of thetube (11B). A washer (122B) is adapted to the first switch (12B) forwaterproof purpose once the third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is assembled. A retainer (123B) is provided in the firstswitch (12B) and an insulation elastic washer (124B), i.e., an O-ring asillustrated, is inserted at the top of the retainer (123B). Whentightening up the first switch (12B), the elastic washer (124B) isslightly compressed for the retainer (123B) to hold against a firstelectrode (21B) of the power source (2B) thus to conduct both of thepower source (2B) and the light emission device (3B) for the lightemission device (3A) to emit light. On the contrary, the light emissiondevice (3B) is prevented from emitting the light upon loosening up thefirst switch (12B). The second switch (13B) in the third preferredembodiment is not operated in the normal use as it is only loosened upwhen the replacement of the light emission device (3B) is required.

[0032] The power source (2B) includes the first electrode (21B) and asecond electrode (22B).

[0033] The light emission device (3B) contains a first electrode pin(31B) and a second electrode ping (32B); an insulation block (33B) isprovided between the first electrode pin (32B) and the second electrodepin (32B), both of the first electrode pin (32B) and the first electrodepin (31B) is inserted into the insulation block (33B) while the secondelectrode pin (32B) rests flushed on the outer side of the insulationblock (33B).

[0034] The light conductor (4) includes an optical fiber (41), aflexible protection tube (42), and a rigid protection tube (43). One endof the optical fiber (41) is inserted and fixed to the second switch(13B) at where in front of the light emission device (3B). The opticalfiber (41) is wrapped up with a protection tube comprised of theflexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protection tube (43). Oneend of the flexible protection tube (42) is fixed to the second switch(13B) to conduct the light emitted from the light emission device (3B)into the optical fiber (42). Another end of the flexible protection tube(42) is connected to one end of the rigid protection tube (3B) while theother end of the rigid protection tube (43) is provided on the frontsight (53A) (as illustrated in FIG. 7).

[0035] Upon assembling, the power source (2B) is provided in the mid ofthe tube (11B) of the casing (1B) and the light emission device (3B) isinserted into the tube (11B) with the insulation block (33B). Though thefirst electrode pin (31B) for being inserted into the insulation block(33B) does not contact the inner wall of the tube (11B), the firstelectrode pin (31B) contacts the second electrode (22B) of the powersource (2B), and the second electrode pin (32B) of the light emissiondevice (3B) contacts the inner wall of the tube (11B). Furthermore, thesecond switch (13B) is engaged with the thread (131B) to the thread(112B) on the other end of the tube (11B) and the second electrode (22B)of the power source (2B) contacts the first electrode pin (31B) of thelight emission device (3B) so that by tightening up the first switch(12B), the elastic wash (124B) is slightly compressed for the retainer(123B) to hold against the first electrode (21B) of the power source(2B) to conduct the power source (2B) and the light emission device (3B)for the light emission device (3B) to emit light; on the contrary, thelight emission device (3B) is prevented from emitting the light byloosening up the first switch (12B).

[0036] The operation of loosening up the switch for the third preferredembodiment is similar to that for the second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention by referring to the description given for FIG. 5,therefore, the description of the operation will not be repeated here.

[0037]FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the application of the thirdpreferred embodiment of the present invention in a rifle (5A) where afront sight housing (51A) of the rifle (5A) is too small in size todrill a hole for direct fixation of the tube (11B) of the casing (1B).Therefore, the tube (11B) of the casing (1B) is provided on a barrel ora hand guard of the rifle (5A) leaving both of the first switch (12B)and the second switch (13B) exposed to facilitate the operation.Although the light conductor (4) is fixed to the tube (11B), theflexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protection tube (43) areextended to the other end of the optical fiber (41) (not illustrated asit is contained in both of the flexible protection tube (42) and therigid protection tube (43)) at the very location of the front sight(51A).

[0038]FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views showing that the third preferredembodiment of the present invention is applied in a modern bow (6).Wherein, a comparatively special front sight (61) is provided to themodern bow (6). Therefore, the tube (11B) of the casing (1B) is directlyfixed to the front sight (61) of the modern bow (6) while leaving bothof the first switch (12B) and the second switch (13B) exposed tofacilitate operation. Though the light conductor (4) is fixed to thetube (11B), the flexible protection tube (42) and the rigid protectiontube (43) are extended to the other end of the optical fiber (41) (notillustrated as it is contained in both of the flexible protection tube(42) and the rigid protection tube (43)) at the very location of a frontsight housing (62).

1. A night vision device to mark the location of a front sightcomprising a casing, a power source, and a light emission device adaptedto the front sight having a light conductor located on a front end ofthe light emission device to conduct the light emitted by the lightemission device to the front sight; wherein, the casing includes a tubeand a switch set, the tube containing the power source connected to thelight emission device; and the switch set controls conduction to thelight emission device to mark by the light emitted from the lightemission device the location of the front sight during night hours orwhere the visual contact is poor. 2-5. (canceled).
 6. The night visiondevice to mark the location of a front sight as claimed in claim 2,wherein, the light conductor is an optical fiber.
 7. The night visiondevice to mark the location of a front sight as claimed in claim 2,wherein, the light conductor is an optical fiber wrapped up with aprotection tube.
 8. A night vision device to mark the location of afront sight as claimed in claim 7, wherein, the protection tube wrappingup the optical fiber of the conductor is comprised of a flexible sectionconnected to a rigid section.